Stretching tool



May 30, 1933. E. G. SEAGREN STRETCHING TOOL 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 3]., 1932 illlll t E. G. SEAGREN May 30, 1933.

STRETCHING TOOL Filed May 31 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Iii ll'l 51 5635 52 657 227 G159 yfefl/ Patented May 30, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE EMIL G. SEAGREN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO SIGNODE STEEL STRAPPING COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE STRETCHING TOOL Application filed Kay 31,

My invention relates to so-called stretching tools,i. e. tools intended for use in tensioning flexible metal binders around packages or groups of packages to secure, reinforce or bind the same together. It will be explained as embodied in a tool of the windlass type, particularly adapted for use with a binder in the form of a metal strap or ribbon, although it is susceptible of embodiment in other types of stretchers and for use with other forms of binder.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide an improved stretching tool.

Another object is to provide an improved stretching tool of the Windlass type, particularly adapted for use with binder of the flexible metal strap or ribbon form.

Another object is to provide a stretching tool of simple and rugged construction and which may be easily and effectively operated.

' Other objects and advantages will hereinafter appear.

In the accompanying drawings, whereln the invention is illustrated as embodied in a stretching tool of the Windlass type:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the tool;

Fig. 2 is a top plan thereof;

Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the tool; and

- Fig. 4 is a section on the line 44 of Fig. 2.

The tool has a frame 5, which may be a casting formed with spaced parallel upstanding flanges or Webs 6 and 7 to provide spaced bearings for a shaft 8. The outer or forward end of shaft 8 is provided with a Windlass 9 about which the binder strap is wound during the tensioning or stretching operation. The drum is provided with a transverse slot 10 which opens into the face and periphery thereof to afford ready means for securing thereto the end of the binder strap which is to be wound upon the periphery of the drum during the tensioning operation. Windlass shaft 8 is held in position in its bearings by a knurled hand wheel or knob 11 which abuts against a projecting boss 12 on flange 6. The knob is held against rotation relative to Windless shaft 8 by suitable means such, for example, as a pin 13, which lies in confronting recesses in the shaft and knob, and is retained in place by a set screw 14,

1932. Serial No. 614,429.

which threads into the end of the Windlass shaft. This knob serves as a ready means for rotating the windless when quick action and only small effort are required, such as when it is desired to position the Windlass slot for the most ready reception of the end of the strap binder orto loosen the binder preparatory to removing the tool. Between flanges 6 and 7 the Windlass shaft provides bearings for the bifurcated ends 15 and 16 of an operating handle 17. A ratchet wheel 18 is rigidly mounted in any suitable manner to Windlass shaft 8 between the bifurcations of the handle. Handle 17 is provided with a cylindrical socket in which is slidably mounted a cylindrical actuating pawl 19. This pawl is provided with a tooth adapted to engage the teeth of ratchet wheel 18 and rotate the same when the handle is moved in one direction and idly or inoperatively to slip over the teeth of the ratchet wheel when the handle is moved in the reverse direction. A spring 20 biases the actuating pawl toward and into operative engagement with the ratchet wheel.

Handle 17 is provided with a pair of spaced lugs 22 between which is mounted an actuating pawl control lever 23. A pivot pin 24, extending through both lugs 22 and the body of lever 23 serves pivotally to connect lever 23 to the handle. This pivot pin may be retained in position in any suitable manner such, for example, as split spring rings 25 seated in grooves in the pivot pin and bearing against the outer surfaces of lugs 22. Lever 23 is provided with a projecting lug 26 which projects in a slot or socket,27 in the barrel of the actuating pawl. This lug serves to prevent rotation of the actuating pawl so as to maintain its tooth in correct relation to the ratchet wheel and it also serves to retain the actuating pawl in place within the handle. The lever has also a projection 28 formed in the shape of a cam for a purpose to be hereinafter described. This projection also serves as a finger grip whereby the actuating pawl may be retracted from engagement with the ratchet wheel whenever desired.

The frame is provided with a cylindrical socket 30 which slidably holds a cylindrical retaining pawl 31. Retaining pawl 31 is provide with a tooth adapted to engage the teeth of ratchet wheel 18 and prevent reverse rotation thereof under the action of the tensioned binder when the'handle is being moved through its inactive stroke and idly to slip over t e teeth of the ratchet wheel while the handle is being moved through its active or tensioning stroke. A spring 32 biases the actuating pawl toward the ratchet wheel.

A retaining pawl control lever 33 is pivotally mounted upon a shaft 34, which also forms the operating shaft of a gripper hereinafter described. This lever 33 is provided with a lug 35 which projects into a slot or socket 36 in the barrel of the. retaining pawl; it is alsoprovided with a projection 37 having a cam surface for a purpose to be presently described. This projection 37 also serves as a finger grip whereby the operator may, when desirable or necessary, retract the retaining pawl from engagement with the ratchet wheel.

The two cam surfaces of projections 28 and 37 of the two pawl control levers coact with each other when the handle is moved to the end of its inactive stroke; that is, 'as the handle is moved to the extreme right as viewed in Figs. 1 and 4. When the movement of the handle is continued after the engagement of extensions 28 and 37 further movement of the handle rotates both levers about their axes with the result that both the actuating pawl and the retaining pawl are withdrawn from engagement with the ratchet wheel,

freeing the ratchet wheel so that it may be readil knob 11. In order to retain or anchor the opposite end of the binder a gripping mechanism controlled by a trip lever 40 is provided. In

the tool illustrated this ipper includes a gripper block 41, 'prefera ly provided with teeth to bitesligh tly intothe surface of the strap. This gripper block is ecoentrically mounted upon shaft 34 which carries trip level-'40 so that when the trip lever is depressed to rotate the shaft the gripper block is moved upwardly and when the trip lever is elevated the gripper block is moved downwardly. The frame of the tool is equipped with a laterally projecting foot 42 between which and the lower surface of the gripper block the binder strap is adapted to be positioned; With the binder stra interposed between the gripper block and t e foot of the tool the elevation of the trip lever causes the binder to be tightly gripped between the gripper block and the tool foot, securely anchoring- -that end of the binder against movement;

lowerin the trip lever se arates the i er block ar id foot, releasing the strap. gr pp In operation the tool is placed upon the package or group of packages to be bound. One end of the binder is then anchored beturned in either direction by the tween the ripper block 41 and the foot of the tool, care in taken to insure that the extreme end of t e binder projects beyond the forward (left) end of the tool a suflicient distance to enable it to be joined, in any suitable manner, to the other end of the binder. The binder, after being passed around the pack age or group of packages, has its free end inserted in the slot of the Windlass drum so that when the drum is rotated the binder will be wound thereupon to tension the same about the package or group of packages and the end going to the drum will be retained in overlapping alinement with the end of the binder anchored by the gripper. The handle of the tool is now reciprocated,care being taken not to bring levers 28 and 37 into sufficiently forceful engagement to withdraw the pawls. During the active stroke of the handle the actuating pawl operatively engages the teeth of the ratchet wheel and the Windlass drum is rotated. During the reverse movement of the operating handle the actuating pawl slips idly over the teeth of the ratchet wheel. During the active stroke of the operating handle the teeth of the ratchet wheel slip idly by the tooth of the retaining pawl, but during the reverse or inactive stroke of the operating handle the tooth of the retaining pawl engages the teeth of the ratchet wheel and reverse rotation of the ratchet wheel, for example. under the tension of the binder, is prevented. Thus the binder can be drawn u to create the desired tension about the ob ect or group of objects being bound.

After the binder has been tensioned to the desired amount the overlapping ends of the binder in front of the tool are joined together in any suitable manner so as to make a permanently closed loop of the binder encircling the package or group of packages. After the joint is made and the Windlass is thereby relieved of the necessity for retaining the tension, the 9 rating handle is moved to the extreme end ofits inactivestroke. During the final' stages of this movement the cam surfaces of pawl control levers 28 and 27 engage each other and, upon further movement of the handle in the same direction these levers are rotated about their pivots to retract both the actuating pawl and the retaining pawl from engagement with the ratchet wheel. With both pawls retracted-the windlass shaft may be easily rotated by the knob to loosen the binder about the Windlass drum and permit its easy removal. When desiring to rotate the Windlass drum in order to bring the slot thereof into the most accessible position for the insertion of the binder the oper- 1 ating handle may be moved to the extreme end of its inactive stroke, bringing together the cam surfaced projections of the pawl control levers so as to retract the pawls and relieve, the Windlass shaft of the resistance af- 1 forded by these pawls when in engagement therewith.

j Having thus illustrated and described the nature and one embodiment of my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

1. A stretching tool having means for engaging a flexible binder to tension the same, a ratchet wheel for actuating said means, an operating handle, an actuating pawl operable by the handle and engaging the ratchet wheel to rotate the same when thehandle is operated, a retaining pawl engaging the ratchet wheel to hold the same in any position to which it is moved by the handle, and a pair of pivotally mounted levers one associated with the actuating pawl and the other associated with the retaining pawl, the levers being in position to strike each other as the handle approaches one extreme position of its movement and withdraw their respective pawls from engagement with the ratchet wheel.

2. A stretching device comprising a frame, means on the frame for engaging a flexible binder to tension the same, a ratchet wheel for actuating said means, a handle mounted to reciprocate about the axis of the ratchet wheel, an actuating pawl slidably carried by the handle and engageable with the ratchet wheel to rotate the same when the handle is moved in one direction and pass 1dly over the same when the handle is moved in the opposite direction, a lever carried by the handle and engaging the actuating pawl, a retaining pawl slidably carried by the frame and engageable with the ratchet wheel to hold the same in any position to whlch it may be moved by the handle acting through the actuating pawl, and a lever carried by the frame and engaging the retaining pawl, said levers having parts which engage each other as the handle approaches one extreme position of its movement and upon further movement of the handle cooperate to withdraw both pawls from engagement with the ratchet wheel.

3. A stretching device comprising a frame, means for engaging a flexible binder to tension the same, a ratchet wheel for actuating said means, a handle mounted to reciprocate about the axis of the ratchet wheel, a spring pressed actuating pawl slidably carried by the handle and engageable with the ratchet wheel to actuate the same, a lever for holding the actuating pawl in position on the handle and for moving the same out of engagement with the ratchet wheel, a spring pressed re- I taining pawl slidably carried by the frame and engageable with the ratchet wheel for holding the same in any position to which engage each other as the handle approaches one extreme position of its movement and upon further movement of the handle cooperating to'rotate the levers to cause them to withdraw the pawls from engagement with the ratchet wheel.

4. A stretching device comprising a frame,

a gripper mounted on the frame for holding I pawl carried by the frame and engageable with the ratchet wheel to permit said wheel to be rotated by the handle and to hold said wheel against reverse rotation, and a pair of pawl actuating levers, one lever being associated with each pawl and independently operable to withdraw the associated pawl out of engagement with the ratchet wheel and the levers cooperating in one position of the handle to withdraw both pawls from engagement with the ratchet wheel. 7

5. A stretching device comprising a frame, a rotatable tension means mounted on the frame and adapted to hold a flexible binder to tension the same, a ratchet wheel for rotating said means, an operating handle oscillatably mounted upon the frame, an actuating pawl operable by movement of the bandle in one direction to rotate the ratchet wheel and inoperable to rotate the ratchet wheel when the handle moves in the opposite direction, a pivoted lever carried by the handle and engaging the actuating pawl to hold the same on the handle and withdraw the same from engagement with the ratchet wheel, a holding pawl carried by the frame and en: gageable with the ratchet wheel to prevent reverse rotation of the same, and a pivoted lever carried by the frame and engaging the retaining pawl to hold the same on the frame and to withdraw the same from engagement with the ratchet wheel, each of said pawls having an extension cooperable with the extension on the other pawl when the handle is moved to one extreme position to withdraw both pawls from. engagement with the ratchet wheel. I

6. A stretching tool comprising a frame, tensioning meansmounted on the frame and for engaging a flexible binder to tension the same, a ratchet wheel for actuating said tensioning means, a cylindrical actuating pawl slidably mounted on the handle, said pawl being operatively associated with the ratchet wheel to rotate the same when the handle is moved in one direction and inoperatively associated with the ratchet wheel when the handle is moved in the reverse direction, a spring for biasing the actuating pawl toward the ratchet wheel, an actuating pawl control lever carried by the handle, said-lever having a projection extending into a socket in the actuating pawl whereby the pawl is retained in proper relation to the ratchet wheel and may be withdrawn from engagement therewith,a cylindrical retaining pawl mounted in the frame, said pawl being operatively associated with the ratchet wheel to prevent rotation thereof in one direction but permitting rotation thereof in the reverse direction,

a retaining pawl control lever carried by the frame, said lever having a projection extending into a socket in the retalning pawl whereby the pawl is retained in proper relation to the ratchet wheel and may be withdrawn from engagement therewith, a spring for biasing the retaining pawl toward the ratchet wheel, and interengageable means upon the two pawl control levers which come into engagement as the handle approaches one extremity of its movement and upon further movement of the handle cooperate to cause the levers to withdraw the pawls from engagement with the ratchet wheel.

In witness whereof, I hereunto sumcribe my name, this 6th day of May, 1932. EMIL G. SEAGREN. 

